DURING my recent visit to Pakistan, I was struck by many things about Hyderabad, but perhaps nothing more telling than the potholes directly outside the office of the mayor. It is difficult to imagine a more obvious symbol of municipal neglect. The mayor does not need to travel across the city to see the condition of Hyderabad`s roads. The evidence is literally right at his doorstep. Despite being immediately visible to the very officials responsible for municipal administration, these dangerous road conditions remain unaddressed.

If the mayor`s office cannot ensure that the road immediately outside its own building is properly maintained, what confidence can people have that the rest of Hyderabad`s roads are receiving the attention they deserve? During my visit, I found this particularly disappointing.

A city`s roads are among the most basic responsibilities of a local government.

Allowing large potholes to remain outside the mayor`s own office sends an undeniable message of indifference and failure.

Perhaps the potholes outside the mayor`s office should be treated as more than road damage. They are a visible measure of accountability. Every day they remain unrepaired, they raise an uncomfortable question about municipal priorities.

Shakeel Nizamani Calgary, Canada